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Welcome to Cambodia

Travel Publications and Travel Agents form where you can gain the fullest of Travel Information and History of this Unique and Inviting Country.

Our aim is to give you an insight, an introduction to why so many people are taking the opportunity to visit this fabulously exciting and ancient Khmer Kingdom. The Kingdom of Cambodia; Steeped in Realism, Culture and Tradition. Travelers today can experience every part of this Ancient Khmer Kingdom; It’s People, Their Culture, Their Traditions. No matter what your particular or specific interest, The Kingdom of Cambodia will appease your every desire, satisfy and overwhelm your ambitions, your expectations, your dreams.

  CAMBODIA AT GLIMPSE.

The Country is a Kingdom with a reigning Monarch, His Majesty, NORODOM Sihamoni, King of Cambodia. Cambodia is not a developed society; But it is in the initial stages of Democratization and entry into a Free Market economy. The basic income for most [workers], The rural dwellers, less than that. The Prime Minister of the coalition government is H.E. Mr. Hun Sen, with his long time rival, His Royal Highness, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, as the President of the National Assembly. Prince Ranariddh is a son of King Sihanouk and is rumored to be heir to the Throne. Cambodia is one of the world’s poorest Nations, but really, only in material values. The Cambodian [Khmer] are mostly rural dwellers living on farms, in Temples, villages and communes. Their life styles and values have changed little over the many thousands of years. Life in Cambodia remains relatively unchanged the Khmer culture and Buddhist way, is that family and home, rest and meditation are most important The word Peasant, is unpopular amongst Westerns and those form developed countries, but in Cambodia, that is what most of the people are, as they always have been; Servants to the Kingdom.

Life and the rural these people live in, is Tranquil, Peaceful and extremely picturesque. They dwell and go about their chores with little thought of to tomorrow; their future is the beginning of the new day, their past, just yesterday.
Step beyond the perimeters of the major provincial towns or the city of Phnom Penh, and you’ll be treated to a journey back in time. Traditional people in a traditional land, traditionally farming their rice paddies with traditional tools and procedures, dotting the landscape and doing what they have done since the beginning of time, for these peasant Khmer.

The countryside, geography and environment are a splendor, a magnificent picture, a spread of fields, forest, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, beaches and tropical isles. A wonderland, unchanged for so many years.
The Kingdom of Cambodia when first settled stretched form Myanmar [Burma] to the East Coat and most of which was known as South Vietnam.
Through migrating clans and tribes, wars and International Treaties, the spread of The Kingdom of Cambodia has been diminished and it is now also one of the smallest nations in the world.

Over the centuries, The Kings have had the impulse to relocate the Capital city on at least three occasions. The internationally renown Angkor Wat, Temple City, Oudong and currently Phnom Penh have all highlighted in history. Angkor Wat leaves little to explain but Oudong and Phnom Penh share just as much intrigue and interest.
Oudong is the sacred place and burial ground for many of the past Kings.
This famous mountain and surrounding fields carry a lot of Khmer history, cultural and traditional. It’s only a short distance form Phnom Penh and you can get there either by local bus or boat or by plane

Phnom Penh’s beginnings were rather unique and simply by accident. The legend goes, that during a big flood, a woman called Daun Penh, floated down one of the rivers on a large log. The log came to rest upon a knoll which, when the waters subsided, turned out to be a small hill or Phnom in Khmer. Others settled and eventually the settlement was named, Phnom [hill] Penh, after the woman’s name.
The settlers to this new found part of the Kingdom did what every good Khmer, Buddhist citizen did and that was to build a Temple. Thus we have Wat Phnom, the only hill in Phnom Penh or the near vicinity.
Today’s Capital, Phnom Penh is a destination in itself. This is truly an experience that one needs to see. Although with modernization, Phnom Penh offers all of the up to date business services, top quality hotels, restaurants and everything else you will find in a modern society, it’s only a few steps off the main boulevards that you are engulfed in yesterday Cambodia.

PHNOM PENH… many things to many people.
Now, it is possible to visit all of the twenty-four provinces, trek the countryside, view the Ancient ruins of many temples, travel the Mighty Mekong and the other rivers and lakes. Journey into parts unknown, untravelled, unseen by the outside world.
Cambodia is ion-line with at least seven international airlines, many border points with Thailand and Vietnam have been opened, there are two modern and fast boats that service the Beachside town of Sihanoukville, form Thailand. Cambodia is now open and although this is bringing development to the major centers and individual business entrepreneurs, it has as yet, not changed the Ancestral make-up and lifestyles, of this most exciting and unspoiled Kingdom.

Cambodia… close to everywhere but distanced, by it’s years of seclusion.
Phnom Penh, though once called the pearl of the orient, is by no means what it used to be. Absolute disregard during some thirty years of conflict and no commercialism has unfortunately fallen Phnom Penh into a broken city. Only the main thoroughfares show any signs of restructuring, rehabilitating or constant up keep. Look beyond the facades, stools through the maze of back streets and lanes and you will experience the exposure to real life in an Ancient city that is trying to cope and develop into what is expected of a modern cityscape and environment.

Phnom Penh has a very casual atmosphere. The influx of Foreigners and US Dollars during the UNTAC years, have left their legacy and unfortunately, the city hasn’t recuperated from the false and illusionary values that the US$4 Billion created. But still the same, people are adjusting back, to a real situation and life goes on.
Foreigners have always been accepted in Cambodia, I suppose being a French Colony for so long, is part of the cause of that. The Khmer are the most friendliest of people, still mostly unspoiled by western and modern ways.
They will accept you and assist you. They smile and they are happy when they talk to you. The children in particular are simply gorgeous and will light up your day with their smiles and innocents.

Phnom Penh, because of the exposure to foreigners from all over the world, is quite cosmopolitan, particularly in cuisine and social venues. Most nationalities are represented and the fare is as good as you will find anywhere.
Bars abound, considering that most produce and almost everything else, must be imported. Vietnam and Thailand are for sure, cheaper, but they lack the grass roots culture and friendliness of the Khmer.
There are several hundred hotels and guest houses in the Capital, to several hundred Dollars per room per night. Taxi’s, local a/c buses, moto-doops and cyclo’s are the most economical, but all transport is cheap, compared to foreign standards. There is also an abundance of water craft and most major provincial centers are situated near a water way.

Travel agencies, guides and all the assistance one needs is readily available and it really isn’t necessary to pre-arrange anything, even your accommodation. Everything can be done when you get here, but if you are in anyway concerned, there are plenty of Travel agents who specialize or are capable of pre-organizing your visit to this wonderful destination.
Outside the city, the natural environment including wildlife is still in the main, in tact. There are areas that you can visit to experience, Tigers, bear and other animals in their native habitat. Rain forest are still standing and there are many secluded and exciting places to visit. The bird life is of the most magnificent and an absolute reward for bird watches. Trail biking, even bicycle tours are now common. Train travel to a couple of provincial Centers is also back on track.
Places that were forbidden or too risky to visit are now open, with a regular number of tourist taking advantage of going to these places before the influx of people that will come with further development and promotion.

The Kingdom of Cambodia, abounds with mystery, intrigue and interests that for the current generations of travelers, is only now becoming available.
If you’ve been everywhere else or your tired of the hassles, rush, bust and over crowding of your usual holiday destination and you want somewhere where you can really gain and benefit form your time off, Cambodia is a most interesting and exciting Country. Pocket sized, readily accessible and most inviting; Cambodia NOW, before it quickly changes, is well recommended.